Four men were arrested in Birzebbuga and Xghajra on Thursday morning in a joint raid by the police and army following weeks of surveillance by the security service.

The arrests are linked to the bomb that failed to explode on 4 January despite being detonated. The bomb was placed underneath a Mitsubishi Pajero, which was parked in a residential area when someone heard a strange noise and saw a spark.

The car belonged to a man known to the police.

The army’s bomb disposal unit managed to defuse the bomb, allowing investigators to extract the intact SIM card in the trigger device that helped them trace the perpetrators.

Sources said phone taps were used to monitor the four men, who were arrested yesterday.

Sources said that during the intensive searches on various properties pertaining to the men, including a field and garage in Birzebbuga, police found large quantities of contraband cigarettes, drugs and explosive material.

Searches continued on Friday morning in a garage in Birzebbuga belonging to one of the suspects.

The police have until Saturday morning to charge the men in court before the 48 hours mandated by law lapse. If the men are not charged they will have to be released from arrest.

Kurt Sansone is Online Editor of www.maltatoday.com.mt.
He was formerly deputy editor of ...